Vacuum cleaner



Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

' UNITED- STATES JOSEPH WHITE L. ACOS'IA, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

VACUUM CLEANER.

Application flied June 11, 1925. Serial No. 88,878.

This invention relates to hand operated pneumatic cleaners for clothes and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a cleaner of the character stated which is of simple and durable structure and which may be easily, conveniently, and efliciently used by an operator and with one hand for removing 'dust, dirt, or other matter from clothes or fabrics.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaner of the character stated having its parts and features compactly arrange whereby the device may be used conveniently where space is limited and the device may be used upon the fabric material by inserting the same under superposed folds of the material or by passing the devicealong linings or along trouser legs or sleeves an within the same.

Astill further object of the invention isthe provision of a fabric'bag arran ed in a hollow handle of a hand operate pneumatic cleaner, said handle having openings therein for permitting air blown into the bag to find exit therethrough after having passed between the woven threads forming the fabric bag, said handle forming a means for supporting and protecting the fabric bag.

With these and other objects in view, the cleaner includes a head in the form of a drum having an intake nozzle at one side and an exit opening at its opposite side. Handle sections are pivotally connected with the head at the opposite sides of the exit opening and a bag is detachably vconnected with the head at the exit opening and is arranged to be received between the handle sections when the same are closed with rela tion to each other. i

A artition wall is disposed across the head, and the hub of a fly wheel is journaled in the partition wall. Fan blades are mounted upon the hub and are located belowlthe partition wall between the intake nozzle and the exit openin A gear wheel is journaled within the hea and awl and ratchet mechanisms are provided or operatively connecting the fly wheel with the gear wheel. A lever and rack mechanism are provided for oscillating the gear wheel as the lever is swung with relation to the head and the handle.

In the accompanying drawings:

taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the pneumatic cleaner comprises ahollow head 1 which is in the general form of a drum and whichhas provided in its lower portlon a cylindrlcal chamber 2, which is in communication with an intake nozzle 2 arranged at one side of the head 1. The upper wall of the chamber 2 is provided with an openlng 2 formed centrally therein which communicates with the interior of the head 1 The head 1 has an exit opening 3 at the side thereof opposite to where the inlet nozzle 2 is arranged.

A roller 4 is journaled at the underside of the head in the vicinity of the nozzle 2 for contacting with the material to be cleaned in order to properly support the nozzle with relation to the materlal. Disposed trans versely across the interior of the head 1 is a partition wall 4, said wall being arranged slightly above the exit opening 3. J ournaled for rotation at the center of the partition wall 4': is a hub 5, which has mounted thereon at its up er end a fly wheel 6 arranged above the wa 14., while below said wall ,4 on the hub 5 are arranged blades 7 which are adapted to turn between the partition wall 4" and the upper wall of the chamber 2.

A ratchet wheel 8 is mounted upon the upper end of the hub 5 and above the upper surface of the fly wheel 6. A gear wheel 9 is mounted upon a shaft 10 which is journaled at the center of the head 1 and which passes through the center of the hub 5. A pawl 11 is pivoted at the underside of the gear wheel 9 and is adapted to engage the teethof the ratchet wheel 8 whereby the said ratchet wheel, the hub, and the fly wheel are caused to rotate with the gear wheel when the gear wheel is turned in one direction and which permits the said fly wheel and said blades to continueto rotate in the same direction when the gear wheel is turned in an op osite direction.

rack bar 12 passes transversely through the head 1 and its teeth mesh with the teeth of the gear Wheel 9. A lever 13 is fulcrumed at the side of the head 1 and is pivotally connected with one end of the rack bar 12 as best shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The rack bar 12 has one end of a spring 13" attached thereto, while the opposite end of the spring issecured to'the interior of the head 1, as at 13", for returning the lever 13 and the rack 12 to their, initial position after the same have been operated by the hand of the operator. Said spring 13 will also act as a means for holding the rack 12 in engagement with the gear 9 independent of the position of the rack.

Handle sections 14 are hingedly connected, as at 15, with the side of the head 1 and at the opposite sides of the exit opening 3 and the said handle sections are hollow and are adapted to be secured in a closed position by means of a clasp 16 which is mounted upon one of the handle sections and adapted to engage overa hump 17 mounted upon the free endof the other handle section as shown in Figure 2. A fabric bag 18 is .adapted to be received between the handle sections 14 and the said bag is provided at one end with a frame 19 in the form of a loop and which is provided at its opposite sides with eyes 20 adapted to receive screws 21 by means of which the said frame and the bag are attached to the side of the head 1.

The open end of the bag registers with the exit opening 3 and the screws 21 are located at the opposite sides of the said opening 3.

The handle sections 14 areprovided with longitudinally extending openings 22 for permitting the air blown into the fabric bag to escape therefrom. Said bag being constructed of fabric material will be porous to the extent of allowing air to pass through, while dust and dirt will be confined within the bag.

The free end portion of the lever 13 is disposed along the handle which is composed of the sections 14.

In operation, the intake nozzle 2*is passed over the surface of the cloth or clothing and at the same time the handle sections 14 are held in the palm of the hand of the operator and the fingers are passed around the lever 13. By opening and closing the fingers of the hand, the lever 13 is swung whereby the rack bar 12 is moved longitudinally and oscillatory movement is imparted to the gear wheel 9. The spring 22 is connected at one end with the rack bar and at its other end with the head 1 and serves to move the rack bar 12 in an outward direction when pressure is removed from the lever 13. As the wheel 9--is turned in one direction the pawl 11 engages the ratchet wheel 8 and rotates the fly wheel 6. Thus a spinning movement is imparted to the fly wheel 6 and through the connecting hub 5 the blades 7 are rotated about the axis of the said hub and thus suction draft is established in the head 1 which draws in the particles of dust or dirt through the intake nozzle 2 and discharges the said dirt and air by centrifugal force through the exit opening 3 into the bag 18.

When it is desired to remove the bag for cleaning, the clasp 16 is disengaged from the hump 17 and the handle sections 14 are swung .apart whereby the screws 21 may be removed from the eyes 20 and the bag l8 and frame 19 may be removed from the head and the bag may becleaned in a usual manner.

From the foregoing description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, .it will be seen that a pneumatic cleaner of simple and durable structure is provided and that the same may be conveniently and easily used for efiiciently removing dust, dirt. or other foreign matter from clothing or cloth and in places where space is limited.

Having described the invention, what is claimed 1s:

A pneumatic cleaner comprising a head provi ed at one side with an intake nozzle and at its opposite side with an exit opening, a partition wall located in the head above the nozzle and below the exit opening and disposed transversely across the head between the nozzle and the opening, said partition wall having an enlarged central opening therein, a shaft rotatably mounted in the head and extending through the central opening, fan blades mounted on A the shaft and arranged in the head above the partition wall, means for rotating the shaft, a handle composed of erforated sections hingedly connected at t eir inner ends to the sides of the head and extending aroundthe opening, clasp means for securing the outer ends of the handle sections together, a bag frame secured tothe head and located within the handle sections, and a bag carried. by the bag frame and surrounding the opening in the head, said bag being housed between the handle sections.

- In testimony whereof, I have .afiixed my 

